Ipswich Town have strengthened their forward line by signing forward Liam Delap from Manchester City.
The 21-year-old has signed a five-year contract and becomes the club's fourth summer recruit, following the additions of Omari Hutchinson, Ben Johnson and Jacob Greaves.
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“I have heard so many good things about the feeling around the club, and how the players and staff work. That’s exactly why I’m excited to be here," Delap told Ipswich's official website.
“The manager here likes to play exciting football. It’s quick and intense and I am looking forward to that. I want to bring goals and assists and I’ll work as hard as I can to help the team.”
Manager Kieran McKenna said: “We think he is a player with the qualities to help the team this season but also to be an important player for the club for many years to come.
“He is a player with outstanding physical and technical attributes who has a hunger to come here and continue to learn and improve. He has gained good first-team experience from a young age and we feel he has the potential for development here.”
Who is Liam Delap?
Born on 8 February 2003 in Winchester, England, Delap was brought up in a "football family".
His dad, Rory, made 358 Premier League appearances for Derby County, Southampton and Stoke City.
Liam joined Man City’s academy in 2019 and his form was rewarded when he was handed a Premier League debut by Pep Guardiola, coming on as a 51st-minute substitute against Leicester City in September 2020.
That came three days after Delap scored on his senior debut as City beat AFC Bournemouth 2-1 in the EFL Cup.
He was named Premier League 2 Player of the Season for 2020/21 after enjoying a record-breaking campaign.
Delap scored 24 goals in Premier League 2, the most in one season by a player in the competition's history, and has spent the last three seasons on loan in the Championship with Stoke City, Preston and Hull City respectively.
Ipswich play their first pre-season match ahead of 2024/25 on 27 July against Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Their opening match of the new Premier League campaign is at home to Liverpool on 17 August.
